Job Description

Introduction

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Nature of the consultancy: The consultancy is a short-term, specialized technical assignment aimed at supporting the implementation of the Pilot Ward Development Plans initiative in two selected pilot wards — one in Enga Province and one in Western Highlands Province.

The consultant will provide expert technical support to conduct a comprehensive, gender-, youth-, and disability-sensitive needs assessment in these two wards and contribute to strengthening inclusive, accountable, and displacement-sensitive local governance systems.

The consultancy is analytical, facilitative, and advisory in nature. It requires demonstrated expertise in inclusive governance, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), disability inclusion, migration and displacement dynamics, participatory planning methodologies, and community engagement in fragile, conflict-affected, and disaster-prone contexts.

Project Context and Scope: Papua New Guinea’s Highlands Region continues to experience recurrent conflict, displacement, weak local governance structures, and limited service delivery capacity. These conditions have contributed to growing numbers of internally displaced persons and heightened community fragility. Ward officials who serve as the first level of local governance often lack the tools, skills, and inclusive processes needed to effectively identify community priorities, coordinate stakeholders, and manage development planning. The absence of structured, inclusive, and evidence‑based Ward Development Plans makes it difficult for displaced and vulnerable communities to articulate needs or access district and provincial funding channels.

To address these gaps, Project seeks to strengthen local governance and community resilience through the development of pilot Ward Development Plans in two selected wards, with a focus on the needs of internally displaced populations and marginalized community groups. As reflected in project documents and activation correspondence, the initiative aims to operationalize inclusive community consultations, improve participatory decision-making processes, and support local authorities and communities to jointly plan and prioritize development interventions. The project complements broader efforts in the Highlands to stabilize conflict‑affected areas, promote social cohesion, and align community-led planning with district and provincial development systems

Under the overall supervision of the Emergencies and Disaster Management (EDM) Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Highlands Region Focal Point, the consultant will provide technical support to inclusive needs assessments, ward-level consultations, and the drafting, validation, and launch of Ward Development Plans, in line with the National Framework for Ward Development and relevant provincial plans. The consultant will work closely with Ward Development Committees, local authorities, and communities to ensure quality, inclusivity, and accountability across all project outputs, contributing to community resilience, peacebuilding, and the prevention of conflict and displacement in the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea., the consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive, gender-, youth-, and disability-sensitive needs assessment in prioritized wards in the Highlands Region, applying Leave No One Behind (LNOB) and conflict-sensitive approaches, including the development and application of appropriate assessment tools and methodologies.
• Facilitate ward- and community-level consultations with ward officials, community leaders, women’s groups, youth representatives, and persons with disabilities to ensure inclusive participation, context-specific analysis, and locally grounded findings.
• Analyse assessment findings to identify priority needs, service gaps, protection risks, and resilience priorities, and prepare a gender-, youth-, and disability-sensitive needs assessment report for review and validation.
• Support the organization and facilitation of feedback and validation consultations with communities, Ward Development Committees (WDCs), and relevant stakeholders to review, refine, and validate draft Ward Development Plans.
• Provide technical support and capacity strengthening to Ward Development Committees (WDCs) on inclusive ward development planning, ensuring alignment with the National Framework for Ward Development (NFWD) and relevant provincial integrated development plans.
• Provide technical guidance to IOM and WDCs during participatory planning processes leading to the drafting and development of tailored, gender-responsive Ward Development Plans, responsive to local context, displacement dynamics, and disaster and conflict risks.
• Support the integration of resource mobilization strategies into Ward Development Plans to enhance feasibility, sustainability, and implementation potential.
• Organize and facilitate community-based workshops, dialogues, training sessions, and awareness activities related to disaster risk reduction/management (DRR/M), stabilization, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and social cohesion, ensuring inclusivity and relevance to local needs.

• Develop two gender‑responsive Ward Development Plans through community‑based participatory approaches, and conducting ward-level consultations and feedback sessions to finalize the Ward Development Plans and contribute to the formal validation and launch of the plans, in coordination with local authorities and stakeholders.

• Support reporting and documentation, ensuring the preparation of high-quality, comprehensive reports capturing project outputs, outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for future programming.
• Where applicable, supervise the day-to-day activities of project staff in the field office under the guidance of the Field Office focal point.
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by IOM.
  
  Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

• First Deliverable: Review and analyse the completed needs assessment data; finalize and submit the comprehensive gender-, youth-, and disability-sensitive Needs Assessment Report; and organize and facilitate community-level workshops in the two prioritized wards to present and discuss the findings with Ward Development Committees (WDCs), community leaders, women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Submission of finalized Needs Assessment Report and workshop summary report.
  Based on the findings from the assessment to conduct intensive Community-Based Planning (CBP) processes in both wards, including establishment and/or strengthening of Ward Development Committees (WDCs); delivery of inclusive participatory planning training; and facilitation of structured community consultations to identify development priorities. Submission of CBP progress report. First instalment payment -40 %– Deliverable by email by 29 May 2026.

• Second Deliverable: Develop two gender-responsive Ward Development Plans based on CBP outcomes; integrate disaster risk reduction, conflict sensitivity, displacement considerations, and preliminary resource mobilization strategies; conduct ward-level consultations with target communities to gather feedback; and professionally review, edit, and consolidate the draft Ward Development Plans to ensure clarity, coherence, alignment with the National Framework for Ward Development (NFWD), and technical quality. Submission of revised Draft Ward Development Plans and consultation summary report. Second instalment payment – 30% – Deliverable by email by 20 July 2026

• Third Deliverable: Incorporate final stakeholder feedback; finalize two Ward Development Plans inclusive of resource mobilization strategies; support formal validation and launch processes at ward level; and submit a consolidated final consultancy report capturing activities conducted, outputs achieved, lessons learned, and recommendations. Third and Final instalment payment -30% – Deliverable by email by 30 October 2026.

  Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

• The consultant’s performance will be evaluated against the following indicators:

• Timely delivery of outputs: All agreed deliverables are completed within the approved timelines and in line with the agreed workplan.

• Quality and inclusivity of assessment, planning, and capacity strengthening: The needs assessment and tailored Ward Development Plans are analytically sound, context-specific, and apply gender, youth, disability, and Leave No One Behind principles, while strengthening the capacities of Ward Development Committees.

• Effective stakeholder engagement and validation: Consultations, validation, and capacity-building processes demonstrate meaningful participation of Ward Development Committees, local authorities, women, youth, and persons with disabilities, with feedback reflected in finalized plans.

• Alignment with policy and planning frameworks: Tailored Ward Development Plans and capacity-strengthening efforts are aligned with the National Framework for Ward Development and relevant provincial integrated development plans.

• Coordination, accountability, and professionalism: Effective coordination with IOM and partners, adherence to quality standards, and accountability throughout the assignment.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• University degree in Social Science, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies, Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change, or a similar relevant field from an accredited academic institution with four years of relevant professional experience; or
• High School Degree/Certificate in the above fields with six years of relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas: peacebuilding, social cohesion, transition and recovery, disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate resilience, displacement and mobility, or community stabilization.
• Demonstrated knowledge of peacebuilding, social cohesion, reintegration approaches, and local development challenges, particularly in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity-building activities, including facilitating training sessions and workshops for diverse audiences (community members, local authorities, and other stakeholders).
• Experience in liaising and coordinating with government authorities, as well as national institutions, service providers, and partners.
• Experience in facilitating consultative processes, including community meetings, stakeholder dialogues, and the collection of qualitative and quantitative data.
• Experience in peace reconciliation processes and conflict resolution is considered an asset.
• Previous experience managing or supervising small national teams and working with government counterparts, INGOs, UN agencies, or the private sector in field-based settings in Papua New Guinea is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and Tok Pisin
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Travel required: Travelling outside of the duty station, DSA will be provided.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Notes

IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

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IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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